This weekend, November 16 and 17, a second collection will be taken at all Masses for Catholic Relief Services. Funds will go toward emergency relief for the millions of our brothers and sisters in the Philippines who have been devastatingly affected by Typhoon Haiyan. As the country struggles amongst the devastation of this storm, please consider making a donation to assist local relief groups who will provide clean water, emergency shelter and basic sanitation. You can donate in the collection basket this weekend or donate online using GiveCentral via the Office for Peace and Justice or through the Catholic Relief Services website.

Please pray for the people of the Philippines and for those who will help them recover from this tragedy.

God, who quiets great winds and stills rough seas,we ask your protection for the people of the Philippines.Comfort them in their fear.Stay close to them in their danger.And we ask the intercession of Your Blessed Mother,Mary, Queen of Angels, that together with herand with all your holy saints, we may stand in solidaritywith our Filipino brothers and sisters throughtheir darkest hour, their longest night. Give us the courage to remain steadfastto reach out to them in their need,to comfort them in their sorrow,to hold them as closely as you hold them,to see them through to morning. Amen.

GEAR UP AS HARVEST JAM 2013 FAST APPROACHESQueen of Angels Harvest Jam, our community fall festival will be September 20 and 21, 2013! Highlights of the event include great live music, delicious food, family games, inflatables, Euro-bungee, arts and crafts and the crowd-pleasing chili, BBQ and pie baking contests!

Please help by becoming a business sponsor. Your sponsorship of this event will help support our wonderful parish community while giving recognition to your business in appreciation for your generosity. Opportunities and thank-you perks include:

Thank you for your consideration! Please contact one of us for details on becoming a sponsor. Donations of any size toward underwriting the costs of Harvest Jam can be made online via GiveCentral.org. Your generous donations ensure the continued success of this celebration!

HELP PRESERVE OUR ORGANThe historic Möller organ has been a part of worship at Queen of Angels for more than 70 years. It has faithfully provided music for countless weddings, funerals, confirmations and liturgical celebrations at the church. Queen of Angels also supports the arts in the Lincoln Square neighborhood with frequent concerts and recitals and the organ is often a part of these events.

To keep this musical treasure alive, the time has come to replace the original leather in the Swell chests. After 70 years, this leather, which allows the chests to expand and contract as air is supplied to the pipes, is no longer in pristine condition. Replacing this leather will insure the organ will continue to speak at Queen of Angels for the next 70 years.

This is not a cosmetic upgrade. This work is necessary to keep the organ from losing the ability to create specific notes. Several notes are already “missing” and we don’t want to further compromise the integrity of the musical instrument.

Our goal is $40,000 to do everything to maintain the organ. To date, we are about 25 percent of the way towards our goal. This amount was collected in a short period of time so we are confident we can raise the additional monies with your help and the help of the entire faith community. There are so many causes that require financial assistance and support. When deciding where your charitable dollars go, please consider a lasting treasure like the Möller organ.

The good work of Queen of Angels Parish depends on your donations. Giving back to God by supporting your local parish has never been easier, now that we have partnered with GiveCentral.org for our online donations, including gifts to the Organ Restoration Fund and the Lyman Scholarship Fund.

PARISHIONERS URGED TO SWITCH TO GIVECENTRALWe ask our parishioners who currently use ParishPay to strongly consider switching to GiveCentral. And for those who have never tried electronic giving, GiveCentral couldn’t be easier. It’s as simple as going to our website and clicking on the “Donate Now” button below. It’s a plan whose time has come and we urge you to make the change!

Giving to Queen of Angels Parish fosters and renews our obligations to fellow parishioners and our community as a whole. As good stewards of Jesus Christ and the Church, we are responsible for encouraging ways in which the word of Jesus can be heard, rendered visible and practical in our actions. You make the Queen of Angels community even stronger with your contribution through GiveCentral.

GIVECENTRAL MAKES IT EASY, SAFE TO DONATE ONLINEAs part of an effort to provide parish and school members with more options, GiveCentral.org was created with input from parishes and schools in Chicago as a customized online giving program. GiveCentral.org is a secure online system where parishioners and families can create individual giving profiles with payment options ranging from direct debit (ACH) to credit cards. Every transaction you make is securely recorded and saved in your own payment history.

It is very heartening to see the number of people switching from ParishPay to GiveCentral. Those individuals who have never signed up for an online giving service will also be pleased with the user-friendliness of GiveCentral. Thank you to all who are now making your donations to Queen of Angels Parish through our online donation service.

On this Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ, we recall the tremendous gift of self that Jesus offers us in the Eucharist. Out of gratitude for this gift and all good things in our life, we in turn are called to give of our time, talent and treasure. There are many current opportunities to serve as liturgical ministers, donate to the parish through GiveCentral.org or through the Organ Restoration Fund, purchase gift cards through Shop with the Angels, and volunteer for or pray for those in leadership roles in our parish community.

Follow the directions for a quick and easy sign up. As with ParishPay, you can donate using a credit card or electronic check from a bank account. If you encounter problems, please contact the parish office at 773-539-7510.

ARE YOU READY TO ‘GIVECENTRAL?’There are many ways to give to your community and your church. Some may choose volunteering, other types of service work, and/or financial contributions. All are valued and important in the eyes of the Church and ministry, but your attention is now drawn to GiveCentral. This is a unique opportunity for our parish to contribute to our faith community, develop stewardship opportunities and give back too those who are in the greatest need of assistance.